NCJ Number
166175
Date Published
1994
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Interviews were conducted during April and May 1994 with a nationally representative sample of parents and children who attended public schools to assess differences between parent and student opinions about and experiences with violence in public schools.
Abstract
Parents and students generally felt public schools provided a safe environment and a quality education. Most students had never been victims of violence or physically harmed while in or around school. A sizable proportion of parents, however, said their children had been victims of violence in or around school and almost as many students concurred. Students who experienced violence were likely to have other negative experiences in school life, to have low academic achievement, to believe the school provided a lesser quality education, and to think their school had vandalism problems. Such students were also likely to say their parents had infrequent contact with the school. Parents and students had different views of life in public schools. Parents were more likely to think that students received personal attention from teachers and that students had caring relationships with teachers and peers. Many students, particularly those who experienced violence in school, hesitated to discuss personal problems with teachers or parents. In addition, students who had been victims of violence were likely to approach relationships with assumptions that increased their vulnerability to violence, and these students were likely to distrust and be disrespectful of their peers. Parents and students most often cited weapons as their most serious concern. Parents felt overcrowded classrooms and the mass media contributed to school violence, while parents and students believed drug use was a major contributing factor. 18 tables